Marine Biology

, Volume 16, Issue 1, pp 22–27 | Cite as

The effect of intensity and quality of illumination on the photosynthesis of some tropical marine phytoplankton

  • S. Z. Qasim
  • P. M. A. Bhattathiri
  • V. P. Devassy
Article
Accepted:

Abstract

Using solar energy as a source of illumination, photosynthesis in 11 species of marine plankton algae was studied as a function of light intensity. From the photosynthesis-light curve for each organism, the saturation points (I k ) in different organisms were determined. Among the diatoms and flagellates, the highest I k (saturation point) values were found in Rhizosolenia styliformis and Dinophysis miles respectively. When the organisms were exposed to a portion of the visible spectrum starting from 700 mμ, the photosynthesis was found to be related to the radiant energy. The missing portions of the spectrum produced no significant change in the rate of photosynthesis. The photosynthetic response shown by the different organisms was strikingly similar, which signifies that, despite the qualitative dissimilarities which the organisms may possess in their pigment composition, they are capable of much chromatic adaptation.

Keywords

Phytoplankton Light Intensity Photosynthesis Solar Energy Radiant Energy 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
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Copyright information

© Springer-Verlag 1972

Authors and Affiliations

  • S. Z. Qasim
    • 1
  • P. M. A. Bhattathiri
    • 1
  • V. P. Devassy
    • 1
  1. 1.Biological Oceanography DivisionNational Institute of OceanographyCochinIndia

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